Sam Querrey to play at Mardy Fish's charity event

VERO BEACH - Local tennis fans will have a chance to see former Vero Beach resident Mardy Fish up close in action at the end of what has turned out to be a career-best season.

After defeating some of the best competition in the world this season, Fish will meet ATP professional Sam Querrey in a singles exhibition match Dec. 9 at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club as part of the sixth annual Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest. The event raises money for the Mardy Fish Foundation for youth programs in Indian River County and the Jake Owen Foundation for kids battling cancer and other diseases.

The singles matchup was confirmed this week, adding to a lineup that Fish said also includes a doubles match against twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, as well as a concert by Vero Beach High School graduate and country music star Jake Owen on Dec. 10 at Holman Stadium.

"Sam Querrey is one of the best young players on the ATP World Tour," Fish said. "Jake and I are thrilled to welcome him to our hometown to support the foundations through this exciting event."

Fish, the top-ranked American tennis player, expects a good match from Querrey, who lives near him in Los Angeles and shares the same coach, David Nainkin. Querrey, 23, has captured six ATP singles titles and three doubles titles, and also has been a two-time member of the U.S. Davis Cup team.

The 6-foot-6 athlete is known for his powerful serve and forehand and currently has the ATP Tour record for most consecutive service aces.

"We have played three times and all of them have been very close," Fish said.

Fish said his exhibition will provide a good tune-up for 2012, as he will look to build off a stellar 2011 season.

In August, Fish won the U.S. Open Series by defeating Richard Gasquet in the fourth round of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, then defeated world No. 2 Rafael Nadal for the first time in his career in the quarterfinals. He also won the Atlanta Tennis Championships for the second consecutive year and reached the third round at the French Open, quarterfinals at Wimbledon and fourth round at the U.S. Open.

"I have had a great year and have been very lucky with my health this season as well," Fish said. "It's been great to be able to play all the events that I set out to play this season."

Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest also will cap a great year for Owen, whose studio album, "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," topped the Billboard charts for country and reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 200 for all genres.

"The event is going to be great again this year," Fish said. "Jake and I look forward to it so much every year because for me it's really the only time I ever get to go home and see my family and spend time in Vero Beach. I don't get to see my old friends and since Jake and I travel so much I haven't seen him much either. ... It will be a lot of fun and great tennis."